LIQUID has appointed a new non-executive director with more than 30 years’ industry experience.

The communications consultancy, which has offices in Birmingham, Jersey and Guernsey, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The appointment of Adrian Wheeler to the role of non-executive director is part of the company’s plan for further expansion.

‘Liquid has managed a number of significant achievements over the last 10 years including being the first UK agency with offices in the Channel Islands, winning multiple awards from both the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and the Public Relations Consultants Association and retaining our ‘Top 40 outside London’ ranking by the authoritative PRWeek annual league table,’ said Liquid chief executive officer Lis Lewis-Jones.

‘We have talented teams working on high profile and important clients from a wide cross-section of industry sectors but it’s important that we continue to look to the future and identify opportunities for further growth. Adrian’s enormous experience, particularly in expanding a business and increasing turnover and profitability, will be invaluable to Liquid and the board moving forward.’

Mr Wheeler co-founded Sterling Public Relations, a general-practice communications consultancy, in 1976 and when it was acquired in 1990 by Grey, he continued to work for them for 16 years as CEO of GCI UK and chairman of GCI Europe, which grew into a 28-office EMEA network.

In addition to his non-executive role at Liquid, Mr Wheeler is also non-executive director at London Communications Agency and Firefly. He is a partner in Agincourt Communications and a consultant at the Gyroscope Consultancy and at Best Communications, an Anglo-Czech public relations firm based in Prague. He is also a director of Speakers’ Corner Trust, an international free-speech charity.

A fellow of the CIPR and of the PRCA, Mr Wheeler was awarded the Stephen Tallents Medal for services to the public relations industry.

‘Liquid is a fascinating company. As far as I know, it is the only mainland agency apart from GCI to include the Channel Islands in its footprint. I have known Lis and Jason for some time – highly-talented individuals and professional to their fingertips. What I hadn’t realised, until I met them, is that the rest of the Liquid management team are just the same – though a year or two younger. This consultancy is going places, and I hope I can help to accelerate their growth,’ said Mr Wheeler.